Wisconsin Giving Mason Posa a Shot to Try and Provide a Spark

MADISON, Wis. — Two seasons ago, Christian Alliegro started to emerge as a key player for the Wisconsin defense as a true freshman. An athletic middle linebacker who could rush the passer and spy athletic quarterbacks, Alliegro carved out a role for himself in 2023 and appeared in all 13 games. That season laid the foundation for what’s been a promising career to this point for Alliegro. Mason Posa now finds himself carving out a similar role. An instant impact true freshman for the Badgers this fall, Posa is being counted on for a spark.

“He’s kind of in the same situation I was in my freshman year,” Alliegro told Badger Blitz. “He can be very similar to my skillset.”

Can Posa Bring a Spark?

In the Badgers’ Big Ten Conference opener against Maryland, Posa saw a season-high 12 snaps on defense, mostly on third downs. He was credited with one pressure and a pass breakup.

Going into Saturday’s road test at No. 20 Michigan, Wisconsin has dropped six consecutive games in Big Ten Conference play. During his Monday press conference, head coach Luke Fickell said it’s up to the players to make things happen and provide a spark to get out of this rut. The third-year head coach believes Posa could be among the answers.

“I’m not saying he knows everything. I’m not saying he knows most of the stuff. But the great thing about guys like him, it doesn’t slow him down,” Fickell stated. “When he has an opportunity to make some plays, he puts himself in a position and he makes them.”

Posa has appeared in three of four games for UW this season. He owns 3.0 tackles, .5 for loss, and a pass breakup. In his Badger debut against Middle Tennessee State, Posa recorded his first career sack during the fourth quarter to close out the 42-10 victory.

“It was awesome,” he said. “My whole family was there. It was just a really special moment. I got my first sack, and now it’s onto better things. Gotta keep working.”

Arriving in June, Posa Got Himself Ready

Posa was not one of the numerous true freshmen who enrolled early. A four-time state champion wrestler, Posa finished out his final season on the mat and arrived in Madison in June. When he was first handed the playbook, Posa, who had goals of seeing the field in year one, had his doubts about picking up a Division 1 defense before the Aug. 28 season opener. However, with a lot of hard work and the help of assistant linebackers coach Tuf Borland, Posa saw his reps in fall camp steadily increase throughout fall camp.

“It was pretty difficult,” he said. “Coming here, it was very emotional at times. Didn’t really believe in myself.”

Then there was an instance in fall camp where Posa met junior tailback Cade Yacamelli in the hole. It did not go Posa’s way.

“Tackling ‘Yac’ and just bouncing off him. I was like, ‘This is big-time football,'” Posa laughed.

More often than not, Posa has been ahead of the game for a true freshman.

“He’s really impressed me. He just got here in the summer, and he did a really good job of picking up the playbook,” Alliegro said. That’s the biggest thing when you’re young. He’s been really consistent in practice, and that’s earned him that spot.”

Posa Stays Loyal

There was a time when Fickell wondered if he’d have the former four-star linebacker this season. During his early signing period press conference to introduce UW’s 2025 recruiting class, Fickell acknowledged, at least in his mind, things got a little dicey down the stretch after the Badgers lost their final five games of the 2024 season.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t say the last three weeks, just knowing how we’ve played, not being able to win, and not being able to get ourselves in a position where we finish well, it’s worried me,” Fickell said. “To see guys like Mason Posa not waiver — yes, he thinks and knows he can come in and make an impact, whether that’s on the field or a part of the culture — that faith and belief that the games and what you see on Saturday isn’t everything. He, in particular, was one in the last few weeks where I was concerned. Obviously, relationships, trust, and belief in this process still win out.”

However, Posa didn’t have any second thoughts about choosing the Badgers. Even when the likes of Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M all checked on him during his senior season, the top-ranked player in New Mexico didn’t have any second thoughts.

“I’m huge on loyalty and that’s what I saw this program was,” he said. “Every player here is huge on loyalty. I never had the urge to leave. I knew this was home, and I knew the coaching staff would develop me, and I knew I would have a really good shot of playing this year.”

“I knew this class was the truth. This class is what’s going to take us to be successful to make those bowl games and to make the playoffs. I feel like if this class stayed together, we’d be really good.”